Social Media Created a Bullying Hell for Rehtaeh Parsons, but Can It Help Others Like Her?

Less than a month since the rape case in Steubenville, Ohio, spurred national outcry, another outraging story has left us horrified. Two weeks ago, Rehtaeh Parsons, a 17-year-old Canadian girl who was the victim of a horrific rape when she was just 15, hanged herself in her bathroom. Seventeen months ago, when she was 15, Rehtaeh was allegedly gang-raped by four boys. "One of those boys took a photo of her being raped and decided it would be fun to distribute the photo to everyone in Rehtaeh's school and community, where it quickly went viral," Rehtaeh's mother, Leah Parsons, wrote on a memorial Facebook page for her daughter. The harassment because of the photo was too much for Rehtaeh to take. She was called a slut. She was angry. She transferred to a new high school, but the photo remained. The harassing text messages continued, and because Rehtaeh kept her story to herself for several days, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police determined there was not enough evidence to charge anyone with the rape. At one point, she checked into a hospital to cope with her depression and anger, but it was not enough. This leaves me wondering: How is something

Seventeen months ago, when she was 15, Rehtaeh was allegedly gang-raped by four boys. "One of those boys took a photo of her being raped and decided it would be fun to distribute the photo to everyone in Rehtaeh's school and community, where it quickly went viral," Rehtaeh's mother, Leah Parsons, wrote on a memorial Facebook page for her daughter.

The harassment because of the photo was too much for Rehtaeh to take. She was called a slut. She was angry. She transferred to a new high school, but the photo remained. The harassing text messages continued, and because Rehtaeh kept her story to herself for several days, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police determined there was not enough evidence to charge anyone with the rape. At one point, she checked into a hospital to cope with her depression and anger, but it was not enough.

This leaves me wondering: How is something like this acceptable? Bullying can seem inescapable when it exists online, and disappearing from old acquaintances is practically impossible—especially for Rehtaeh. These boys committed a heinous act and not only got away with it, they publicized it on the Internet. Are you kidding me, universe?

Rehtaeh's story is tragic—and all too familiar. Stories of bullying, rape, and suicide are nothing new; however, in the age of social media it seems they can have a new resonance. Yes, social media can function as a new, ubiquitous way for strangers to harass one another (just ask any celebrity), but it can do good. In Rehtaeh's case, social media gave her story the attention it deserves. So much so that the hacker group Anonymous has taken action on Rehtaeh's behalf, gathering evidence in the rape case that was dropped and threatening to expose the identities of the four suspects. Though we can't change the past, enough outrage at Rehtaeh's story sparked Anonymous' efforts, and on Friday, the RCMP reopened her case. There are two sides to this coin, and when social media's powers are harnessed for good, maybe it can be a power used to help change the culture that hurt Rehtaeh in the first place.

So, what do you think—can we change the rape culture and cyber-bullying that permeate our society? Does social media help or hurt the cause?